Born Again Rider

[Coffin Dodger]

I am 55 years old have never owned a motorcycle.
However, I do have a full motorcycle licence.

Long story short, 30 years ago I wanted a CBR 600, but I didn't want to buy a 125cc only to sell it on when I passed my test. What I did do was go on a few rider courses and eventually passed my test in 1990 on a rented Honda CB 125 - which was the last time I rode a motorcycle.

Alas, a marriage and mortgage soon followed and the motorcycle never happened.

..... but now I would like a motorcycle again. And can buy anything I want. Should I buy that Honda CBR600RR?

[Keithy]

Unless you were an epically brilliant natural rider, no.

Or if you want to buy it but are going to do a sensible ‘updating’ course first, possibly.

Have you even sat on one?

[Coffin Dodger]

[JustinW]

I was recently out with my instructor and we pulled over for a coffee. A guy came up to chat to him, very similar story to you. Had passed test a long time ago but wanted to get on a bigger bike. The instructor basically said you never lose it, but recommended a few hours refresher. Seemed to make sense really. Might cost you a couple of hundred quid, but got to be money well spent.

[grr666]

Won't be dodging that coffin for long....
If you really have only wobbled around on a 125 years ago then riding one of those will feel like being fired out of a gun.
You'll literally exceed a typical 125s top speed before you hit second gear assuming you don't just loop it. At least do a
re-familiarisation course with a riding school first. You could even repeat the CBT but do it on a big bike for that matter.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[Coffin Dodger]

[Coffin Dodger]

[Bhud]

Realistically, it's very late in the day, and time stands still for no man. You wanted a CBR600 30 years ago. Ha! I wanted one even as a kid. Since then, many opportunities have arisen for me to buy a good one, but I never did. The reason is that my preferred style of riding and the places where I ride don't favour that type of bike. Did I know that as a kid? No.

This was the time and place to ride a CBR600:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJv4kMowTAw

That was 30 years ago. You decided against it, and now that entire scene - well, good luck if you can find it because you'll certainly have to search hard. People changed. Many new people even tend to buy new bikes and then stick to the speed limits everywhere - safety tends to be a much higher priority for riders now. Sports bike riders often (not always) take track day training, which is now widely available and a popular thing. Bikes changed as well.

If you want a comparable example, there's a guy who lives not far from me, who bought himself a ridiculously overpowered sports bike as his first bike this year. Not quite as old as you, but still old. He'd probably been hankering after it for many years. I saw him ride it just once, and the guy was just riding as if he were terrified. He will end up selling it. Bikes are not the poor man's Ferrari - you can't fulfil a dream by just owning one - you have to use it as well.

Therefore you should probably just put the CBR600 out of your mind. Go back to a riding school, take a refresher course on one of their bikes, have a chat with them about what bikes are available and what would suit you.

[Coffin Dodger]

[Easy-X]

I know of the bike you speak of A guy at my works commutes (or commuted past tense, given the current situation) on a CBR600RR.

Do you like going fast? Like really, really fast? This like many other sports bikes will do that... which is good as you'll want to get to your destination quickly ere you cripple your back.

Do you want a bike that looks fast with sleek racing fairings? Don't like doing maintenance? Great! As you'd spend >1hr just getting the plastics off before you need a bit of a lie down to think about the next steps to check your valve shims.

Now, most of the above applies to sports bikes in general and like them, despite being a relatively light bike (the later ones anyway) it's surprisingly ungainly when you need to push it around. Oh, and did I mention you're hunched over in a racing position and you might find it uncomfortable after a while? I did? Let me mention it again...

Let's not get bogged down on "is it better than a Ninja?" etc. as from a beginner's perspective that's like asking the trainee Lion-tamer if he'd rather prefer to start with Tigers
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Coffin Dodger]

[ThatDippyTwat]

Let's also mention that older, decent nick CBR600RR's are going up in price. Don't spaz a decent one into the hedge, please.

Go see your local instructor. Get a few hours on one of their bikes, it'll be a stepping stone. You need one, normally I tell people on a first big bike to just be careful, but not having ridden anything than an asthmatic 125 30 years ago? Go get some time. There's no pressure, no test to pass, and the instructor will probably welcome that as a change from sheparding noobs through a CBT or the test pressure of a DAS.

Then see about riding something more fun, but bear in mind that full Race Rep 90's 600's were fairly unforgiving, both in ergonomics and performance. At 55, most people are selling them on and getting something with a less hardcore riding position, and You have to rev the tits off them, they want to be hammered everywhere, and you'll struggle to do that these days. You would probably be pleasantly surprised what a tourer can do as well, there's were a few option's in the 90's if you want to stick to that timeframe.
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'98 VFR800 (touring) - '12 VFR800 Crosrunner (Commuting) - '01 KDX220 (Big Green Antisocial Machine)

[jeffyjeff]

For a rider in your situation, I suggest a bike that is lighter and a bit smaller as you develop your motorcycling skills. Not implying you buy anything that shouts "learner bike" to everyone on the street; there are many bikes available that would be appropriate for someone getting back into riding after a 30 year layoff. May I make the following suggestions:

1. A lighter bike, something you can muscle around a bit and easily pick up yourself if you drop it.
2. A moderately powered bike, something with a linear power band, unintimidating, but with enough power to be fun when you get the urge.

I suggest a middleweight in the 400cc-500cc range. A Kawasaki Z400 would be tits if you're looking to buy new. If used, maybe an older EX500 or Suzuki GS500, or even a KTM 390 would fit the bill. These bikes are all great fun, and quite entertaining in the upper rpm range. Bounce it off the rev limiter a few times and you'll know what I mean.
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History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of men - BOC

[pepperami]

[dynax]

I'm 50 rode a bike about 30 years ago too, but didn't do any tests, 18 months ago did a CBT and got a 125 and i love it, it does everything i need and have no need for anything more powerful, jumping onto a 600cc without doing a refresher is nuts and in all honesty modern bikes have improved considerably and you may find that a 600 is too much and a 4/500 is better, also a sports bike riding position might not be very comfortable after a few minutes, and that is where the dangers are as you can't concentrate properly, as said do some training before making a decision
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Mike.
Bikes: Xena, Bridget,Florence
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmihUc0xXxYbR4_0l-F1FzA/videos?view_as=subscriber

[Easy-X]

[doggone]

It will cripple you one way or another, look at a different style of bike like the Yamaha MT07 or Suzuki Vstrom (just an idea other similar bikes are available)
Around 600cc is a good size to get back in the swing of it.
You aren't too old though plenty here are 60+ *cough*

[piazza]

Buy it and enjoy it. You waited this long!

*Bucket list tick*

I remember threads where peple are like ''yeah but the throttle goes both ways'' etc.

It goes as fast as you want too!

DO IT.

[Freddyfruitba...]

[ThunderGuts]

OP is probably getting the general idea by now; as above really, I'd get a day with an instructor (used to be called conversion days, converting from 125 to a big bike ready for mod 1/2 training); if you pay him/her for the day and explain what you want (refamiliarisation etc.) and they can make the day fit to your agenda. By the end of it you'll have covered a good chunk of miles, should have relaxed back into riding enough to start thinking about how you are getting on with the bike you're on, which will probably be a 650 twin of some sort or similar. Then chat with the instructor about what you should be buying.

In summary, a 600 class sportsbike is a pretty extreme one-trick pony. If you have good flexibility, don't suffer from arthritis (or expect to in the near future) and only intend on summer blasts for a few hours then it's a possibility, otherwise I'd suggest something a bit more rounded.
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TG.

[arry]

Why the 600RR? Just get a Fireblade and have done with it

[Andy_Pagin]

[Coffin Dodger]

[Coffin Dodger]

[Coffin Dodger]